Nonstop flights to D.C. to be a thing of the past

Published: Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM.

While the flight was less than half full on Friday morning, a U.S. Airways representative said the aircraft can hold up to 50 customers on any given flight.

One of them, Hope Jones, of Alexandria Va., is a frequent red-eye passenger. At least once per month she flies to Jacksonville from Washington D.C. to visit her Marine boyfriend stationed aboard Camp Lejeune. The flights average her $140 round-trip and are much cheaper and more cost-effective than driving, she said.

“These flights make my life so much easier,” Jones said. “When you’re trying to span the distance to support your loved one and be part of this community this flight is truly crucial to making that happen.”

When the flights are no longer running Jones will more than likely drive depending on the cost of flights that connect through Charlotte, she said.

“Setting aside the price, this service takes a huge burden off of my relationship,” Jones said. “It allows me the opportunity to be a bigger part of his life and be more involved with him. It gives us the chance for more one-on-one time and that’s always nice.”

Passengers on Friday enjoyed what will be one of the last direct flights from Jacksonville to Washington D.C.

As American Airlines and U.S. Airways begin to merge, a divestiture of flights to Washington Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C. will be made, American Airlines announced this week. The divestitures were mandated by the Department of Justice to regulate the number of airline flight slots at the Washington D.C. airport. Jacksonville is among 16 destinations that will no longer have direct daily flights to the nation’s capital through U.S. Airways or American Airlines.

“These flights are very convenient for me,” said Janice Williams of Jacksonville, who took the first flight out of OAJ Friday morning at 6:15. “I will greatly miss them because it makes it so easy for me to go see my daughter. It beats driving about five hours and dealing with traffic. I will certainly miss this.”

The combination of low cost flights and a quick commute make the non-stop flights to D.C. an easy choice for Williams, she said, but now that they will soon be going away, she will need to weigh her other options. Layovers in Charlotte or driving are two of the possibilities, she said.

“I’d like the airline to know that they are supposed to serve the people,” she said. “If this is something that is good for the people then they should keep it. All they are doing is inconveniencing us.”

Christopher White, director of Albert J. Ellis Airport, said the change wasn’t expected, but is always a possibility in the airline industry.

“The airlines change and subtract destinations all the time,” White said. “It doesn’t even make the news at larger airports but it’s an important thing at smaller airports like ours.”

With expansion in the foreseeable future, White said the loss of D.C. flights will not affect the airport’s growth or their ability to meet customer travel needs.

“It’s going to be a big deal for our customers because they are losing that direct destination flight,” White said. “They'll still get to D.C. by air, it just won't be direct.”

The current terminal, he said, has room for two airlines whereas the new construction project, which will be completed in the summer of 2015, will have the possibility of hosting a third airline.

The airport is unaware of any plans on behalf of the airlines to add additional direct flight locations at this time, according to White, who added additional options are being pursued by the airport and the county.

Onslow County Board of Commissioners Chairman Paul Buchanan said in a Friday release the airport continues to be a cornerstone of stability and growth in the county and while it’s “disheartening” that flights have been discontinued, the county will continue to establish routes.

Commissioner Vice Chair Barbara Ikner said the county remains “fully committed” to the continued growth and development of the airport.

“We will continue seeking additional air service to our community and remain optimistic that this service will be re-established sometime in the future,”Ikner said.

While the flight was less than half full on Friday morning, a U.S. Airways representative said the aircraft can hold up to 50 customers on any given flight.

One of them, Hope Jones, of Alexandria Va., is a frequent red-eye passenger. At least once per month she flies to Jacksonville from Washington D.C. to visit her Marine boyfriend stationed aboard Camp Lejeune. The flights average her $140 round-trip and are much cheaper and more cost-effective than driving, she said.

“These flights make my life so much easier,” Jones said. “When you’re trying to span the distance to support your loved one and be part of this community this flight is truly crucial to making that happen.”

When the flights are no longer running Jones will more than likely drive depending on the cost of flights that connect through Charlotte, she said.

“Setting aside the price, this service takes a huge burden off of my relationship,” Jones said. “It allows me the opportunity to be a bigger part of his life and be more involved with him. It gives us the chance for more one-on-one time and that’s always nice.”